Whirligig



(No Model.)

W. J. MCCARTHY. WHIRLIGIG.

No. 517,223. Patented Mar. 27, 1894.

mum nnnnnnnn c4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JOSEPH MCCARTHY, OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN.

WHIRLIGIG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,228, dated March 27, 1894.

Application filed February 18, 1893. Serial No. 462,862. {No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOSEPH Mo- OARTHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Menomineain the county of Menominee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Whirligig, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in toys, and has special reference to that .class thereof known as whirligigs.

The objects in view are to provide a cheap and simply constructed as well as amusing toy of this class adapted to be operated continuously through the medium of a pullingcord, While the toy is held in the hand, and to produce various colors of rings pleasing to the eye and amusing to the child.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal sectional view.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in both figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I provide a convenient handle 1, reducing the same near its upper end to receive and snugly fit into the lower end of a metal ferrule 2, which ferrule has its upper extremity provided with a bearing opening 3, which is in alignment with a countersunkiopening l formed in the upper end of the handle 1. The ferrule is further provided near its upper end with a lateral perforation or opening5.

Mounted for rotation in the bearing openings 3 and lof the ferrule and handle respectively, is a cylindrical shaft'6 and the same has its lower end reduced as at 7 to fit within the bearing opening 4 and at its upper end reduced as at 8 to pass through the upper bearing-opening 3 of the ferrule. Beyond this upper reduction 7 it is further reduced as at 8 and threaded the said reduced threaded portion having fitted thereover a pair of washers 9 and between the same the ornamental or fancy disk or other shaped contrivance lO-that is to be whirled, the same being secured in position by being clamped between the washers through the medium of a thumbnut 11..

prefer to employ the same.

12 designates a string or cord which is passed through the perforation 5 in the ferrule and passed through and secured to the perforation 13 formed in the shaft near the lower end thereof, so that as will be obvious by rotating the shaft in either direction the cord will be wound from the lower to the upper end of the axle and not be wound all at one point upon the axle as would be the case if the cord were connected to the axle at or near a point opposite the hole 5 in the ferrule. The outer end of the cord is provided with a finger-ring 14.-.

The Whirligig may be of any desired design, in the present instance it consists of a square central body-portion 15 which is provided with a series of concentric differently colored rings, and to the four corners of the body-portion there is pivoted in this instance by means of eyelets 16 a series of jointed arms 17. Each arm consists of a series of sections, the several sections being of various colors and pivoted together by eyelets 18. It will be obvious that various other colored designs may be substituted for this herein shown, such as stars, disks, &c., all of which are within the scope of my invention. I have, however, found that a whirling device constructed in the manner described gives a very beautiful effect when in motion and hence I The loose sections of course are extended radially by the centrifugal force generated by the whirling and as the speed is decreased, so also is the radial extension of the arms, and hence it has the appearance of contracting and expanding rings, as will be obvious.

Having described my invention, what I claim is-- In a toy of the class described, the combination with a handle, a winding-shaft, and a winding-cord, of a rectangular body-portion, and the series of jointed arms pivoted to the corners thereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownI have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOSEPH MCCARTHY.

Witnesses:

J OHN COAKLEY, J AS. F. HILL. 

